Pagan Tama
Winter Solstice / Yule (Around December 21st)
Like the Summer Solstice, the Winter Solstice is not a big deal in Japan and is not a public holiday. However, it is conveniently close to the Emperor’s Birthday (Tennō Tanjōbi) on December 23rd , which is a public holiday. Christmas Day is also not a public holiday, but much like Halloween it is observed as a fun secular festival with lots of Christmas-themed goods available in the shops, which could be used as Yule decorations. Far more important in Japan is New Year’s Day (Oshōgatsu) and the days surrounding it; New Year’s Day is the most important observance in the Shinto calendar.
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